RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Phillip Graham, DrPH., a senior public health researcher in the Crime, Violence and Justice Research program at RTI International has been elected to the board of directors for the Society for Prevention Research as the chair of the Diversity Network Committee.

He will serve a three-year term.

The board is composed of 25 professionals nationwide who are dedicated to progressing scientific investigation on the causes and prevention of social, physical and mental health, and academic problems.

Graham will chair the Diversity Network Committee to advocate, support and promote diversity initiatives within the Society for Prevention Research on behalf of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and encourage the conduct of prevention research and the design of culturally-relevant interventions that address the various needs of racially and ethnically diverse populations.

Graham, a community-based researcher and an expert on public health issues, joined RTI in 1997. At RTI, he directs several projects ranging from the prevention of adolescent interpersonal violence and substance use, to federal initiatives to help states redirect substance abuse prevention funding to implement evidence-based prevention strategies at the state and local levels. His research emphasizes the importance of community context, systems change and place-based strategies.

He also holds an appointment as an adjunct faculty member in the Maternal and Child Health Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Graham has authored or co-authored book chapters, peer reviewed journal articles and technical reports focused on improving behavioral outcomes among children, adolescents and young adults.

Graham holds a doctorate and master’s degree in maternal and child health from UNC, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology also from UNC.